We think Iowa lawmakers are getting close to making the state’s roads safer for everyone.

How are they doing that? By advancing a bill that would prohibit drivers from using electronic devices unless they are in a hands-free mode.

State Rep. Ann Meyer, R-Fort Dodge, first introduced the bill more than four years ago after hearing horror stories from people who were in crashes or nearly in crashes because another driver was using their phone instead of paying attention to the road.

Meyer has now submitted the bill in four consecutive legislative sessions. And in each of the three previous sessions, the bill was set aside.

This year’s legislative session just might be different.

In January, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced her support of the measure.

Last week, the state Senate approved the bill in a 47-1 landslide vote.

Now it is up to the House of Representatives, where the chamber’s Republican leadership has been less than enthusiastic about the measure

Meyer has said that if she can ever get a hands-free measure to the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote by all the members, it will pass. On Saturday, she said during the Eggs and Issues forum that 53 of the 100 members of the House have committed to voting for the bill. She also said that when the vote finally does occur there will be more than 53 yes votes. We have no reason to doubt her.

And we have yet to hear a valid reason for opposing something that seems so basic it probably should have been the law when cell phones debuted years ago.

We are convinced that banning drivers from using electronic devices unless they are in a hands-free mode will save lives.

We are impressed by Meyer’s tenacity on this issue. But she needs help to get this life-saving measure passed and signed into law.

We ask residents throughout the region to contact their state representatives and urge them to support the hands-free legislation. For lawmakers deluged with information from special interest groups, a short email, text or call from a constituent back home still carries a lot of weight.

The Messenger also calls upon state representatives to join Meyer in getting this important legislation passed.